Shannon Ebert

La Habra High School played nearly flawless defense and freshman shortstop Cathy Turner had two hits, a run batted in and scored two runs in a 4-0 victory over Foothill in the first round of the Southern Section 3-A softball playoffs Friday at La Habra. La Habra pitcher Laura Corson limited Foothill to a single by Kerry Lodgard in the third inning. La Habra had four hits and only one error. Turner went two for three, with a triple and a single. She came into the game leading her team in RBIs with 12 and second in runs scored with 11. Corson entered the game with 14 runs.

When Shannon Ebert was growing up, she figured the best way to be a successful hitter was to copy a major league baseball player. But Ebert, who plays first base for Orange Coast College's softball team, didn't have the choices that cable television now brings. Such hitters as George Brett, Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn were not seen that often in the Los Angeles market. Her choices were limited to local teams, and so she selected Daryl Sconiers, who played with the Angels from 1981 to 1985.

When Shannon Ebert was growing up, she figured the best way to be a successful hitter was to copy a major league baseball player. But Ebert, who plays first base for Orange Coast College's softball team, didn't have the choices that cable television now brings. Such hitters as George Brett, Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn were not seen that often in the Los Angeles market. Her choices were limited to local teams, and so she selected Daryl Sconiers, who played with the Angels from 1981 to 1985.

La Habra High School played nearly flawless defense and freshman shortstop Cathy Turner had two hits, a run batted in and scored two runs in a 4-0 victory over Foothill in the first round of the Southern Section 3-A softball playoffs Friday at La Habra. La Habra pitcher Laura Corson limited Foothill to a single by Kerry Lodgard in the third inning. La Habra had four hits and only one error. Turner went two for three, with a triple and a single. She came into the game leading her team in RBIs with 12 and second in runs scored with 11. Corson entered the game with 14 runs.

Orange Coast had 10 consecutive hits, including four in a row for extra bases, in the third inning of a 13-0 victory over Saddleback in an Orange Empire Conference softball game called after five innings because of the mercy rule. OCC led, 1-0, going into the third inning, when the Pirates sent 16 batters to the plate and scored 12 runs. Shannon Ebert hit a three-run home run to start the extra-base hit string. Tina Fuata and Kami Bigler had triples and Alisha Nelson added a double.

Laura Corson of Cypress has been named pitcher of the year and teammate Tricia Barr as player of the year in a vote by Orange Empire Conference softball coaches. Corson was 23-7 with a 0.45 earned-run average this season as Cypress won the conference for the second consecutive year. Barr, a shortstop, hit .311 in conference. Cypress' Brad Pickler was selected coach of the year. The coaches' first team: P: Laura Corson (Cypress), Pam Fogg (Golden West), Alisha Nelson (Orange Coast).

Orange Coast College, which won its first Orange Empire Conference softball title, made a clean sweep when it came time for postseason honors. Alisha Nelson of the Pirates was selected conference pitcher of the year, first baseman Shannon Ebert was named player of the year, and Nick Trani was chosen coach of the year. Nelson and Ebert were also first-team all-conference selections last year.

The Saddleback men's tennis team clinched its 13th consecutive conference title with a 9-0 victory over Riverside in an Orange Empire Conference match Wednesday in Mission Viejo. It was the 52nd consecutive conference match victory for Saddleback (17-1, 11-0 in conference). The Gauchos, the two-time defending state champions, have won 41 of their past 42 matches. Max Alvarez defeated Teddy Wuisang, 6-2, 7-6, in singles play.

Orange Coast won its first game and lost the second Friday in the first day of the State softball tournament in Sacramento. Orange Coast beat San Mateo, 4-1, in the opening round, then lost to Sacramento City, 2-0. Sacramento (52-3), the top-ranked team in the state, scored two unearned runs in the second inning and pitcher Kim Gonzalez (22-1) controlled the game from there. She allowed two hits, one in the first and another in the seventh. She retired 16 in a row at one point.

The Golden West women's basketball team won its third Orange Empire Conference title in four years by defeating Cypress, 88-41, Friday in Huntington Beach. It was the 21st consecutive victory for Golden West (29-1, 11-0 in conference), the defending state champions. Bits Sirchia scored 23 points and Jennifer Harney added 18 for Golden West, which has won 23 consecutive conference games and 30 in a row at Golden West.

In other Orange Empire Conference baseball games: Cypress 7, Saddleback 6--Matt Wilson had a pinch-hit, bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the seventh to give Cypress (14-7, 4-4) a 7-6 lead. Carlos Castillo pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Todd Blyleven, allowing two hits and striking out four to get the victory for Cypress (14-7, 4-4).

Leann Gonzalez faced the minimum 21 batters in pitching a two-hitter, and Foothill High School defeated Villa Park, 2-0, in their Century League softball showdown Thursday at Villa Park. Gonzalez, a sophomore right-hander, struck out nine and did not walk a batter for Foothill. "This had to be her best outing of the year," Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez said of his daughter. "She was really focused. We've been waiting for this one for a while."